Combined cot, stretcher, table, and swing



May 15, 1928.

F. C. STOUTENBURG COMBINED COT, STRETCHER, TABLE, AND SWING Filed June 29, 1925 IIIIIIIIIIIIIlllllllllllllllllllnlillllM n Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,669,681 PATENT- "OFFICE,

' FREDERICK e. STOU'lENBURG, or cmviirinnn, 01-110.

. COMBINED co'r, srnn'rcnnn, TABLE, AND swine.

Application filed June 29, 1-925, Serial No. 40,164. c

This invention relates to combined cots, stretcher-s, tables and swings, and to such combined structures malnng either form of equipment readily adaptable to any one of desired form, or to be changed to anyone I of the other forms. It is especially valuable for the reason that, while the cot bottom is made yieldable and flexible for great comfort, the top provided for the table, when the structure is to be so used, is made quite rigid and provides a fiat and closed upper surface, the legs being lengthened for the table use over that intended for the cot or stretcher. I

These various uses and forms are attained by adapting many of the parts for more than one use, and providing suitable connections between the various parts in an .alter-' native relation. 1 p 1 With these and other objects of my invention in view the invention consists of certain nove-l features and combinations, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- 6 r Figure -1 is a perspective view of a cot construction with other parts shown diagrammatically Figure 2 is a perspective view of portions of the structure, indicating the relative arrangement of parts to adapt the same for use as a table, but some portions being broken away to show changes in certain sup port-mg elements Figure 3 1s a view of a complete roll as it Wdll appear when all parts are packed wlth in the table top;

Figure 4; is a view of theside brace for the cot side bars;

l li-gure 5 is adetai'l view of endbar 10f thecoti;

Figure 6 is a detail view of an armored end of aside bar; 7

, Figure 7 is a perspective detail of the cot leg;

Figure sis a view of the leg extension for the table 1 structure one end of Van Figure 9 isa detail showing the iron clamp for attaching the stretcher handles, and

Figure l0 is an edge View of the slatted top with its canvas backing,

Thebasic structure for the entire combination is, a collapsible frame made of said bars 5'and1end bars 6, the latter being hollow, and may be a channel iron with closed ends 32,

c and the bars 5 each formed of longitudinal sections hinged together at their ends at 10 to permit doubling the side bars. in. packing inside the roll, as will be later explained.

An iron channel bar 7 is provided with spaced key-hole-slots 16 in. the mid wall which by longitudinal movement on the sec-.

tions of thebars 5, will lock or unlockthe sections in alinement, the sect-ions having nails or screws for engagement in the slots. The legs 8 are also formed of channel iron having the mid wall cut back from the ends at 30 to provide a supporting edge'to bear against theunder side of the bars 5 to hold the legs in an inclined position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the extended ears 23 being Ipivoted to the said bars 5 by a suitable pin or bolt 31.. The legs 8 have a key-hole slot 21 at the mid-wall and-another in one of the flanges near the lower end of the leg as at 22. See Figsl, 2 and 7.

The extension elemen 9 for application within the hollow member 8 may be formed of nearly any material and is preferably solid. It isprovi-ded with a screw or nail head or pin 19 at one end, a transverseopening 25 therethrough near its mid point, and a curved portion. 17 near the lower end adapted for a hand-hold. The pin 19 may be locked in the slot 21 when the two leg sect-ions are to be united, or the part 9 may be removed from 8 and the pin 19 inserted in the slot 22 of part 8 to enable the extension 9 to be .supportedin a vertical position at the side of the bars 5 so that the extensions I 9 may serve as short masts adjacent thecorners of the not to hold suitable coverings or awnings over the cot, such as netting to protect the occupant of the cot from flies or other insects, or forwater- -proot coverings to protect the occupant from showers .or falling snow andaif-carefully secured on the pants 9 .and draped about the parts 5 and-6,

will protect from winds, when such protection is needed, 1

When usedns a not or stretcher, wire supporting screen 1.1 is suspended from the end e e by m ns emai d spr g 2 b i d into the upper flange of the bar 6 and connected with the screen, as shown in 'Flgs. 1, 2 and 5. When the same is to be used'for a table, the legs 8 are extended by attaching thereto the parts 9, and closely assembled slats 13 are covered over the frame by applying them transverse of the frame with their ends supported upon the slde bars 5, as shown in Fig. 2. These slats are all se cured attheir bottom surfaces to a strong textile material, such as canvas-14, and the slats are positioned thereon in contiguity so that there-resultsa level and closely mounted table surface, and one'which will permit rolling the same under and about the canvas so, that the slats will separate somewhat as they are rolled up, as shown'in Fig. 3. Sufficient of the slatted surfaceis shown "in Fig. 2 to illustrate the manner f-applying it on the cot when it is desired to do'so.

In some cases the user willhave other utensils with him that he will wish to keep covered up and associated Wltll the main structure, such as certain dishware or possiblybed clothing or table cloths ortowel's. My particular structure is readily adapted to meet this condition, and I assemble the parts in the following manner-the side bars This is made all the more serviceable because 5 are disconnected for the moment from the end bars 6, when the bars 6 together with the screen 11 are turned over or reversed, so that the screen 11 will then be attached to a lower fiange of the bars 6,'instead of the upper flange, after which the bars are again connected to the ends of the bars 5 in thesame relation as'before. 1 shows the screen 11 attached to the upper flanges ofG, as also does Fig. 5, while Fig. 2 shows the coils 12 and screen 11 connected to the lower flanges. By the latter arrangement, it willbe clear that there will be aconsiderable cavity or space in between the screen on the lower side andthe slatted surface above, whichni'nay well be utilized for packing away some of the articles. named above.

- be reversed in the manner stated in order to change the cot or stretcher to a table.

slats may beapplied to the cot shown in Fig. 1 without any other change whatever, save that of lengthening the legs. If such space intermediate the screen and slats is desired, Fig; 2 shows how it may be provided without adding other equipment than is used without exposing the articles to the floor or ground, and without packing them away 1 from proper ventilation.

I regard this feature as having great value, and-1s provided for thecot or table. The cot may also serve the purpose of a purposes.

The

stretcher or a means I- for carrying. many sockets 29 are provided at each endof the side bars 5 somewhat remote from the end bars,6. Steel clevis bands 15 are provided To do this, small cavities or for each corner of the cot in the form of a channel ironbut having the flange ends bent in toward each other leaving an open1ng'be-- tween the ends just sufiicient to receive there an the width of thebars 5. can then be hung upon the bars, as shown 1n dotted lines in Fig. 1, after which the leg The said bands part 9 may be inserted lengthwise above the bar 5, so that the band willembrace the two' parts 5 and 9, as shown in Fig. 9. 'Since'the pin 19 of the leg 9 will readily sink into the cavity 29 of 5, and the handholds 17 are directed downward, the part 9 serves as a strong but detachable handle for a stretcher. There will be a handle for each corner of theframe. a H 1 p The frame may also be used as a swing-by providing hooks 35 which are provided at the ends of rods or chains 27, theelatter'be ing united suitably by a ring 28 from-which the weight of the end of the frame may be borne by a single chain shown in Fig. 1, which may be attached to any overhead support. Holes 20 are provided in the flange of the end members 6 into which the hooks 35 may be hooked detachably. There will be rods andhooks for each corner of the frame, so thatthe frame will besusp'ended in a balanced manner. I p 1 7 "When the masts formed by ereetingthe parts9 upright are in position, a nail or pin 24 is inserted through the opening 25 ot the leg 9 and through suitable holes-in the bars 5. i This will hold the masts agalnst strain, as the'pulling tendency'of the netting or cover is act ng inward toward the frame Y and not tending to separate the masts.

The ends of the bars 5 are protected by plates 26, shown in Fig. 6, to resist Wear on the wooden bars, the entire bar being then provided with openings 33 which register with openings through the flanges of the barS-G'Wh'en the ends of 5 areinserted in bars 6, and suitable pins or bolts 18 are then inserted" to detachably lock the parts together. At one corner 34 the plates and bar ends are curved to make possible easier swinging of the bar 5 within the socket formed. at the end of the bar 6, When the pins 18 are removed. 1 This'will be of service in packing the bars 5 and 6 together i the rods 27 and hooks 35am detached from frame'is to be used as a stretcher. 'Also,

the holes 20 except when the frame is used as a swing.

From the above description and illustrations, itisbelieved that the manner of assem blin and of detaching for ackin 'will be 7 c c: P is evident. Assuming that all loose parts are in the rolled bundle, and it is desired to use the frame for a table, the bars 5 are'connected to the sockets of the bars 6, with the latter positioned with the wire netting ll connected to. the upper flange or the lower iiange of 6, depending upon whether the space between the slats and screen s to be utilized for packing purposes, the legs 8 are.

such as hooks and eye parts which may beinserted. in the respective parts.

Of course, it is clear that when the bundle is packed, the parts 5 are folded together on their hinges 10, and will be opened and held in alinement by means of the brace piece 7 whether theframe is to be used for a cot or a table. The frame is now in its highest position because of the use of the longest support legs 8 and 9 which is the usual position taken when the article is to be used as a table. stretcher handles are to be applied, the hooks 35 are removed from the holes 20, though they may remain if the slatted top does not extend to the extreme end of the frame.

If now, the structure is to be used for the other purposes, the legs 9 are detached and the slatted top 13 is removed, and the screen 1.1 preferably placed in connected relation with the upper flange of 6, when a cot re sults. If an awning is desired, the parts 9 are attached in the manner shown in Fig. 1 at one corner with the parts 9'forming masts which will support light netting, water-proof covering or both. If a swing structure is desired, the hooks 35 may be inserted, if they are not already secured, and the chains connected for suspending the cot frame from some overhead support as the limb of a tree.

If portable means is needed, as in the use as a stretcher, the parts 9 are connected to the ends of the bars 5, the hooks 35 being removed, by the bands 15, and hand-holds arev thereby provided which a-re'easily detachable from the frame and at the same time are strong and convenient for carrying the weight of the cot and occupant. My structure therefore affords a very efficient combination means for camping purposes where a stretcher is needed and at the same time tables are'at the call of any authority re uirin the same as in arm service. O 7

. ters Patent is 1. A convertible bed comprising a frame,

In this use, as well as when the,

for an overhanging covering,

My improved combination structure is believed. to be particularly useful in that it furnishes so many different articles though much the same parts are utilized in the several arrangements. It is believed to be essentially novel to provide table structure having beneath its top smooth surface a wire screen spaced somewhat from the table top to provide a shallow cavity for storage purposes. [lho arrangement of the two sections each, of the supporting legs detachable for providi a longer or shorter 'leg, when used for a table and cot combined, seems also to be novel.\ My structure provides selectively, then, a cot, table, swing, stretcher, or an awning-covered frame for protection from the elements. The latterwill be useful either with the cot, the stretcher or the swing arrangemcnt. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and ClCSllfGfO secure byLetsupporting legs pivoted to said frame, a flexible fabric bottom suspended from the ends of said frame, a ren'iovable table top for resting upon said frame above the fabric bottom, elongated (PlQCQS having means thereon for detachably securingone end. of each to the lower ends of the said supportmg legs to lengthen the latter when the structure is to be used as a table, and said the corners of the frame and to the frame and legs, so that they may serve as supports 7 i Y when the structure is to be used as a protected cot.

2. A convertible bed comprising a frame, supporting legs pivoted to said frame, a flexible fabric bottomsuspended fromthe ends of said frame, a removable table top for resting upon said frame above the fabric bottom, elongated pieces having means thereon for detachably securing oneend of each to the lower endsv of the supporting legs to lengthen the latter when the to said members, a bed bottom su ported by said members, a removable folda 1e and slatted table top comprising a series of par transportation, supporting leg members for member and cut away from the main per tion of said inid-wallto form extended ears connected by a shoulder at the end of the mid-Well, there being apertures in said ears in register, there being a keyhole slot in the mid-Wall adjacent'said shoulder and another in one of thesi'de flanges near the opposite end of the leg, ni'ea'ns for pivoting); the leg to the side bar COlIlPI'iSlDg a pin inserted through the "said apertures and through a suitable opening in the bar, and solid pieces having a pin adjacent one end adapted to seat in the uppermost slot of said leg whenthe-structure to be used as atable, for the purpose of lengthening the leg, and being removable from said slot when the structure is to be used as a cot. 4. A sectional leg-member COmPIlSlH main section of metal, channel form in cross section, the mid-Wall being shorter at one end than the flanges, there being apertures in said ears and key slots in the upper end of the shortened mid-Wall and the lower end-of one of the flanges, and an auxiliary section of solid material fitting Within the flanves of the main section and having a pin pro ecting therefrom near one end thereof,

whereby the auxiliary section may be de-.

tachably connected to said main section' by fitting the pin in the mid-Wall, or the main mariner rectangular frame 'Who'se end pieces are de- I tachably connected to the ends of the side bars, the letter comprising sections hinged tog ether whereb they nia ybe doubled together, land channel braces having pin and key slot locking attachment With the sections to hold the side bars in straight positiom a tlexiblebed bott'oinhaving means for detachz ihly securing its ends to said end pieces,

a slatted table top mounted on a textile backing whereby the slats may be rolled together inwardly about the hacking, sup port'ingz legs inelu'ding main sections pivoted to said barsend auxiliary sections having means for connecting with the main sec tions to lengthen the legs, meansfor alternatively cennect ing' the said auxiliary sections to the inain'sectionsin inverted position to provide supporting means for a covering and means for connecting them with theendsof the bars in projecting relation to provide hand-holds, whereby the structure may be rolled up with the end pieces, bars, braces leg sections and fl'ezri,

ble bottoni enclosed in a unitary bundle \yifiliin'thetop. l

In testimony Where signature.

FREDERICK o. sroufrnnnune.

I hereunto my 

